State Board approves FY2025 request, adopts code changes and names Science of Reading spotlight schools

The Alabama State Board of Education on Oct. 12 approved the fiscal year 2025 foundation program appropriation request, adopted an amended Administrative Code rule governing the annual appropriation of foundation program funds and announced its intent to adopt a separate chapter on education accountability, while also recognizing educators and naming this year’s Science of Reading spotlight schools.

The board held a roll call, approved the meeting agenda and minutes, and then moved through a series of resolutions recognizing principals, assistant principals, counselors and teachers of the year from districts across the state. The board also passed proclamations designating October for National School Lunch Week, Dyslexia Awareness Month and School Bus Safety Week, among other routine recognitions.

Why it matters: The foundation program appropriation request is the formal statement of the State Department of Education’s funding ask for K–12 operations; adopting the related Administrative Code rule implements the board’s annual procedure for distributing those funds. The announcement of intent to adopt an accountability chapter begins a formal rulemaking step that could affect how the state evaluates school performance.

Budget and administrative actions The board considered and approved a motion to approve the fiscal year 2025 foundation program appropriation request. A board member said, “I do plan to abstain on this particular vote. There are some questions that I continue to have regarding parts of the budget,” and the member announced their abstention during the vote. (The meeting record shows a motion, a second and a roll-call style in-room vote with at least one abstention.)

Separately, the board moved to adopt an amended Alabama Administrative Code rule listed in the meeting as rule 290-2-1-01, described in the meeting as “pertaining to annual appropriation of school foundation program funds.” The board then voted to announce its intent to adopt an amended Administrative Code chapter 290-4-1 (education accountability); the meeting record shows a motion, a second and in-room votes for both actions.

Nominations and appointments Governor Wayne Reynolds nominated Dr. Yvette Richardson to represent the board (the nomination was moved and seconded). A motion to confirm Dr. Richardson was made and seconded during the meeting; the transcript records the nomination and the motion to confirm but does not include a clearly stated final vote tally for that confirmation in the provided excerpt.

Literacy, dyslexia and Science of Reading spotlight schools Bonnie Short, director of the Alabama Reading Initiative, briefed the board on dyslexia awareness and reading supports and called attention to the state’s work under literacy law goals. “We now have one of the most rigorous laws in the nation,” Short said, referencing the state’s literacy-related statute and the work the initiative supports.

Short and staff also announced the 2023 Science of Reading Spotlight Schools by board district. The schools and districts named in the meeting transcript include: - District 1: New Brockton Elementary (Coffee County); Baldwin County Virtual School counselors recognized earlier in the meeting - District 2: Beauregard Elementary (Lee County) - District 3: Randolph Elementary (Bibb County) - District 4: Central Elementary (Tuscaloosa City); Lipscomb Elementary (Jefferson County) - District 5: Pentlala Elementary and University Charter School (Montgomery Public Schools); Robert E. Lee Elementary (Satsuma City) - District 6: Vinmont Elementary and Alexandria Elementary (Coleman County listed in transcript) - District 7: Weeden Elementary (Florence City); Russellville City Schools (entire district recognized) - District 8: Geraldine Elementary (DeKalb County)

Partnerships and community supports The board recognized volunteer and community reading supports, including representatives from the Alabama Kiwanis District. The transcript notes the Kiwanis project working with 79 schools and highlights that the Birmingham Kiwanis Club has more than 500 members; the district’s Montgomery-area club is said to be raising more than $300,000 at the Alabama National Fair to support local projects.

Safety and other remarks Dr. Mackie, a board staff member who offered public/legal information during the meeting, urged caution around school buses and in school zones after the board noted the recent death of a 15-year-old student who had been waiting at a bus stop. “It is not worth it to pass a school bus. It is extremely dangerous,” Dr. Mackie said, and the board made a public reminder about vigilance in school zones and near stops.

Votes at a glance (key items recorded in the meeting transcript) - Multiple resolutions recognizing principals, assistant principals, counselors and teachers of the year — motions moved, seconded and adopted by voice/raised-hand votes during the Oct. 12 meeting. - Motion to approve the fiscal year 2025 foundation program appropriation request — motion and second recorded; at least one board member announced an abstention during the vote. - Motion to adopt amended Alabama Administrative Code rule 290-2-1-01 (annual appropriation of foundation program funds) — motion, second and in-room vote recorded. - Motion to announce intent to adopt amended Administrative Code chapter 290-4-1 (education accountability) — motion, second and in-room vote recorded. - Nomination of Dr. Yvette Richardson as delegate — motion to confirm was made and seconded; final confirmation tally not specified in the provided transcript excerpt.

What’s next The board set its next meeting for Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium. Several of the administrative-code steps described at the Oct. 12 meeting begin formal rulemaking or require further staff work; the board indicated staff will continue work on reading initiatives and planned recognition photography and follow-up outreach for dyslexia awareness.